A donor advised fund (DAF) is a type of giving program
that allows you to combine the most favorable tax benefits with the
flexibility to support your favorite charities easily. An
increasingly popular charitable vehicle, DAFs are an excellent way
to both simplify your charitable giving and facilitate your
strategic philanthropic goals.

How does it work?

Establish your DAF by making an irrevocable,
tax-deductible donation to a public charity that sponsors a DAF
program

Advise the investment allocation of the donated
assets (any investment growth is tax-free)

Recommend grants to qualified public charities of
your choice

If I have a DAF, how do I use the DAFDirect form? (located to the right)

Select the sponsoring organization from the "Donate
now from:" field.

Specify "BSO", "Boston Pops", or "Tanglewood" in
the "Designation:" field.

Enter the amount (in dollars) you would like to
recommend in the "Amount:" field.

Click on the "NEXT" button to proceed to the
sponsoring organization's website to complete your donor advised
fund transaction. Please note, you will be directed to an
external website to complete your transaction.

Tax-efficiency- Contributions are tax-deductible
and any investment growth in the DAF is tax-free. It is also easy
to donate long term appreciated securities, eliminating capital
gains taxes and allowing you to support multiple charities from one
block of stock.

Family legacy - A DAF is a powerful way to build or
continue a tradition of family philanthropy.

No start-up costs - There is no cost to establish a
DAF. However, there are often minimum initial charitable
contributions to establish the DAF (typically $5,000 or
more).**

No transaction fees - Once approved, 100% of your
recommended grant goes to your qualified public charity of choice.
**

Privacy if desired- Donors may choose to be
acknowledged or remain anonymous.

** Sponsoring organizations
generally assess an administrative fee on the assets in a DAF.
These fees vary by sponsoring organization.

Will I receive membership benefits from the BSO for an
annual fund donation made through a DAF?

Since the original contribution to the DAF provided the maximum
tax deduction, the donor-advisor cannot receive any benefits that
would change the value of the tax deduction. However, the
donor-advisor can receive benefits that have insubstantial or no
fair market value.

Whom should I contact with questions regarding giving to
the BSO through a DAF?

Additional questions about making a gift to the BSO through a
DAF should be directed to individual gift officers or to the
Friends of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at 617-638-9276 or friendsofthebso@bso.org.

BSO DAF Frequently Asked Questions
For more information on giving to the BSO through a donor advised
fund, please click here.